Allison Model 1 Restoration - Matching veneer/finish question

[special_20]

A friend's father was downsizing and I have been given a pair of Allison Acoustics Model 1 speakers. They were in somewhat rough shape: woofers foam was rotten, scrathes on tops, bases had seen some moisture damage. I am working on a moderate level of restoration to bring them back to life. So far I have:

• re-foamed the 4 woofers
• stripped and sanded the original finish
• stabilized and leveled out the swollen particle board with some epoxy
• replaced water damaged edge banding on the bases with red oak

I am now preparing to apply the finish and have some questions. I am was hoping to do a simple finish of a danish oil (I have neutral and walnut on hand) and maybe a wipe on poly for protection.

I believe the original finish was oak or walnut. I found some red oak edge band at the hardware store which I have applied and trimmed. The original veneer appears much darker than the new edge band veneer. When I wet the two, there is a pretty stark contrast in color. I'd like to get a closer match to the old veneer. How does one go about this?

Use a thinned wiping stain to impart a grey/red tone then apply danish oil?
Finish original parts with danish oil, then tint the danish oil finish for the new veneer in an attempt to color match?
other tips or tricks?

 

[Lou G]

I thought the original Allison One had walnut veneer. May be why it looks dark compared to the oak.

 

[F1nut]

As Lou G noted, you have two different wood species, walnut and your new oak. It is possible to get the color tones very close, but you don't have the equipment, materials and experience to do it. Besides, the grain patterns will never match. Even if you had applied new walnut banding the color tone would still be way off. You should consider reveneering both entire cabinets in oak.

Edit: there's absolutely no point in applying an oil finish if you plan on applying a clear film coat such as poly.

 

[Allison3]

I thought the original Allison One had walnut veneer. May be why it looks dark compared to the oak.

A Ones came only in walnut. The IC series came in oak.

 

[Drugolf]

What F1 said above.
My ones wood is walnut with a rather blah finish frankly. Almost looks like a darkened mahogany. The speaker is mostly the black grilles so the wood doesn't need to carry the day in terms of looks. You can practice applying some different stains on that oak you used to see if you get it closer to the walnut. Then cover it all with a danish oil. That's about all one can do at home.
-or-
The Ones are worth the effort so you may want to take them to a pro to do the final steps of the process including doing the correct veneer on those edges.

 

[Allison3]

Are they late model Ones (paddle switches on the crossover?)

 

[special_20]

Thakns

As Lou G noted, you have two different wood species, walnut and your new oak. It is possible to get the color tones very close, but you don't have the equipment, materials and experience to do it. Besides, the grain patterns will never match. Even if you had applied new walnut banding the color tone would still be way off. You should consider reveneering both entire cabinets in oak.

Edit: there's absolutely no point in applying an oil finish if you plan on applying a clear film coat such as poly.

ok, thanks for input there. I'm not up for redoing the entire cabinets but I think I've found some inexpensive walnut veneer. I might reverse course here and redo the edge band in the hopes of a better outcome.

 

[special_20]

What F1 said above.
My ones wood is walnut with a rather blah finish frankly. Almost looks like a darkened mahogany. The speaker is mostly the black grilles so the wood doesn't need to carry the day in terms of looks. You can practice applying some different stains on that oak you used to see if you get it closer to the walnut. Then cover it all with a danish oil. That's about all one can do at home.
-or-
The Ones are worth the effort so you may want to take them to a pro to do the final steps of the process including doing the correct veneer on those edges.

Well, the water damage has impacted the side panels too. The bottom was brittle and toast. The sides are swollen but intact. I'm not willing to go crazy on my refurb, but I have found some cheaper walnut veneer pieces and may see if I can redo the bases in Walnut in the hopes of a better restoration.

 

[special_20]

Are they late model Ones (paddle switches on the crossover?)

There are 2 switches on the back. They are also bi-wireable too.

 

[Drugolf]

Well, the water damage has impacted the side panels too. The bottom was brittle and toast. The sides are swollen but intact. I'm not willing to go crazy on my refurb, but I have found some cheaper walnut veneer pieces and may see if I can redo the bases in Walnut in the hopes of a better restoration.

Yep, unfortunately water finds open pore space, even against gravity a little. Goof luck. I'm not sure how they brought the tops and bottoms together with the back and sides, but maybe you can replace the entire thing. I guess you would have to work internally thru the woofer hole.